It may legally be authentic just because Waterford has "outsourced" its manufacturing, but it is clearly not nearly the same quality as that which the public thinks of as Irish Waterford. The Slovenia glass (not even sure it is crystal) is thicker, the cutting of the pattern is not nearly as distinct (rounder edges that look more like pressed glass than crystal) and instead of the wonderful chime you get from high quality crystal you'll hear a dull thud when you strike the glass with your fingernails. Not worth the money.
Check the bottom of the piece of crystal. You will find a very small and faint logo that will actually say Waterford. I don't think that answers the person's question. Waterford crystal, beginning some time in the 1990's was being made in Slovenia, not Ireland. Now it might even be made in China. Point being, it is no longer made in Ireland UNLESS it's a high-end order from VIP's like Trump or the President, etc. So, the questions remains. How can a person tell if the crystal they already own was made in Ireland? Do they not stamp Waterford on the pieces made in Slovenia?
I just ordered two Curraghmore champagne flutes to match the rest of my Waterford crystal, which was purchased years ago and definitely made in Ireland. The new crystal is beautiful, but on the boxes it says "Waterford" and "Made in Hungary."
waterford
Waterford Crystal is made at the Waterford Factory in Ireland. Not true, anymore. I went to Waterford, Ireland this April (2009) on my honeymoon. There are no tours of the factory, because the factory is closed. The employee told us the crystal is now made in Eastern Europe. My 2009 Christmas ornament is marked "Made in Germany."
Some Waterford Crystal is made in Waterford but not as industrially as before the factory in Waterford closed down. A year or so later the House of Waterford Crystal opened, it makes a bit of the crystal but only really to sell in the store. Frankly it cost to much to make in Ireland with the minimum pay of €1,461.85 a month. It is much cheaper to make in places such as China.
if it said it was made there it was
I am sorry to disappoint you but probably not. You see, most of it is made in Eastern contries like China and there is lots of it being made everyday. It only might increase if it was made in Waterford which is very unlikely. Sorry.
Waterford Crystal is brand name, originally it was all made in Waterford. Now though it is very expensive to make high quality glass in a country such as Ireland. It is far cheaper to make in China etc. Waterford Crystal is a brand name not a promise.
Absolutely, Waterford is markded onthe foot of each glass
No. Slovenia is a country on the continent of Europe.
Not lately. They used to be made in Waterford, Ireland. Now only a handful of their custom pieces are made in Waterford. Since 2009 when they declared bankruptcy and restructured, their entire mass production inventory is made anywhere from Germany to Indonesia to China.
I think your referring to Waterford crystal, the factory was closed in 2009 but glass is still produced in mainland in Europe in Germany and the Czech republic.